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Love at first sight! Sailor marries high school sweetheart at airport

A U.S. Navy sailor told his high school sweetheart he wanted to marry her the moment he laid eyes on her after an 11-month deployment off the coast of war-torn Syria. Seaman Apprentice Dylan Ruffer got his wish Tuesday shortly after stepping off a plane at Reno-Tahoe International Airport. Ruffer and Madison Meinhardt, both 19, tied the knot just after midnight under a tulle-covered arch in f
U.S. Navy seaman Dylan Ruffer and his fiancee, Madison Meinhardt
Sweet reunion: U.S. Navy seaman Dylan Ruffer and his fiancee, Madison Meinhardt, talk to news reporters after getting married in front of the arrivals escalators at the Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Nov. 19.Uncredited / Today

A U.S. Navy sailor told his high school sweetheart he wanted to marry her the moment he laid eyes on her after an 11-month deployment off the coast of war-torn Syria.

Seaman Apprentice Dylan Ruffer got his wish Tuesday shortly after stepping off a plane at Reno-Tahoe International Airport.

Ruffer and Madison Meinhardt, both 19, tied the knot just after midnight under a tulle-covered arch in front of the arrivals escalators. More than 200 invited guests, passengers and others looked on.

"Seeing her for the first time, it was amazing," Ruffer told reporters.

A reception followed in the baggage claim area.

"We were expecting a little wedding in the corner," Meinhardt said. "This is definitely more than we could have ever asked for."

In this photo courtesy of Heidi Jared taken on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013, U.S. Navy seaman Dylan Ruffer and his fiancee, Madison Meinhardt, both from Che...
Dylan Ruffer and Madison Meinhardt shared their wedding with 200 invited guests, passengers and others who looked on.Uncredited / Today

The couple, who met at Chester High School in Northern California, initially planned to marry in October but had to postpone the wedding when Ruffer's deployment was extended, according to KOLO-TV.

The bride inquired about the possibility of an airport wedding about three weeks ago, and businesses and community members quickly rallied around the plan. The Peppermill casino offered a spa package so the bride could prepare, while the Eldorado casino donated a honeymoon suite and limousine.

The airport catering service prepared food for the reception, which was held in a fully decorated section of the baggage claim area and featured a DJ.

"A lot of people were absolutely stunned to see a wedding in the terminal," airport spokesman Brian Kulpin said. "It's not something you see in the airport every day."